The pandemic and the awkward limbo we have been experiencing for some months now have affected our normal routine in a way we could have never imagined. Working from home blurs our daily life activities, which used to be quite clearly defined: work-related activities, house chores and personal administration, leisure and friends/relatives. These three segments of our time seem to have somewhat blended lately. Yet it is possible to avoid being overwhelmed by this combination of events. The first thing you should do is to pay great attention to precious little moments and rediscover your natural pace.
Here are five simple ways to wind down and cherish your own rhythm.
- Give yourself some moments of healthy (un)productivity and focus on yourself only.
Sit on a park bench (when possible) or carve out your own relaxing spot in the house and behold the show of life, forgetting your problems and brushing aside that unsettling voice that tells you “get going, optimise, it’s late!”. Dedicate some time, every day, to yourself: meditate, go for walk, listen to yourself breathing, in silence and solitude: it will help you recharge your batteries and feel less pressure. Furthermore, a body that is in good shape and well trained will better respond to daily activities. Try to follow a healthy and light diet.
- What time is it? A compulsive rite
Think about it: how many times, during the day, do you check the time on your smartphone? The idea that time is like an arrow that dashes from one spot to another, without ever slowing down, is deeply rooted inside us. We constantly get the impression we are running out of time. It’s pestering. But time is not an arrow. It can slow down. We don’t have time because we’re always in a rush! Haste alters the perception of time and gives us the idea there is never enough of it. Try to wake earlier in the morning: having an extra half hour will allow you to earn precious time and to be more relaxed as you do whatever you have to do. Use this time to do something that makes you happy and boosts your energy at the very start of the day.
- Tidiness is important
Disorder may be creative and it sometimes gives you that extra fantasy and energy that allows you to overcome routine and break free from daily schedules, but avoiding wasting too much time looking for something is also very useful. Besides, being a little disciplined can help you tackle emergencies that require a clear-minded, orderly response.
- Use technology wisely
Technology simplifies our lives in a number of ways. But it is necessary to use it in a balanced way, preventing it from getting hold of our lives. It can be a great ally, but we must know it well and use it wisely. Constantly posting on social media websites apparently make us feel less lonely, it spares us the FOMO syndrome, it keeps us constantly updated… but it is best to miss out on what is online and rediscover genuine intimacy. A wise way to use technology could be to use it bit by bit, to organise our activities, without letting it become some sort of obsession. Do not delay this: try to define your set of priorities straight away.
- What do you really need?
Managing time is hard. It’s tiring. You’re better off asking yourself what it is that you actually need. “Why am I doing this? Do I really want it?”. The more you ask yourself these questions, the more you will break free from all useless, repetitive and time-consuming activities. Learn to say no: it helps shed light and set limits, without requiring pointless justifications. Learn to say “No, thanks” to long and exhausting phone calls, to the people who deplete your resources. This means preserving your energy and safeguarding your spaces, to live better and more genuinely.
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